Everton have reaffirmed their stance against any proposed breakaway European Super League after fresh proposals for a 'multi-divisional' competition were revealed.
The failed attempt to launch the ESL back in April 2021 was a seismic event for European football as 12 of the continents biggest clubs attempted to engineer the biggest shake up the game had seen for decades. Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona were all part of the line up but the plans were met with an angry reaction from fans, leagues, governing bodies and other stakeholders and one by one the numbers of the dozen clubs committed dwindled until just three remained; Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
A22, the company engaged to facilitate the creation of the ESL, has been on the charm offensive over the past six months following the appointment of CEO Bernd Reichart, getting feedback 'from over 50 clubs' as part of their plans to bring about the project in a more palatable way than the one that was presented 2021.
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The latest proposals for the ESL were presented by Reichart via German newspaper Die Welt, with plans for a 'multi-divisional' competition featuring between 60 and 80 teams mooted where clubs would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches and the competition governed based on 10 principles that included an increased focus on financial sustainability, meritocracy and fan experience.
The competition would be based on sporting performance with no permanent members.
Reichart wrote: "The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing. It’s time for a change. It is the clubs that bear the entrepreneurial risk in football. But when important decisions are at stake, they are too often forced to sit idly by on the sidelines as the sporting and financial foundations crumble around them.
"Our talks have also made it clear that clubs often find it impossible to speak out publicly against a system that uses the threat of sanctions to thwart opposition. Our dialogue was open, honest, constructive and resulted in clear ideas about what changes are needed and how they could be implemented. There is a lot to do and we will continue our dialogue."
Everton's stance on the current plans remains the same as it was when the ESL was first proposed. It is not something that they would engage in.
In April of 2021 a statement from the club read: "Everton is saddened and disappointed to see proposals of a breakaway league pushed forward by six clubs.
"Six clubs acting entirely in their own interests. Six clubs tarnishing the reputation of our league and the game. Six clubs choosing to disrespect every other club with whom they sit around the Premier League table. Six clubs taking for granted and even betraying the majority of football supporters across our country and beyond.
"At this time of national and international crisis - and a defining period for our game - clubs should be working together collaboratively with the ideals of our game and its supporters uppermost.
"Instead, these clubs have been secretly conspiring to break away from a football pyramid that has served them so well.
"And in that Pyramid Everton salutes every club, be it Leicester City, Accrington Stanley, Gillingham, Lincoln City, Morecambe, Southend United, Notts County and the rest who have, with their very being, enriched the lives of their supporters throughout the game's history. And vice versa.
"The self-proclaimed Super Six appear intent on disenfranchising supporters across the game - including their own - by putting the very structure that underpins the game we love under threat.
"The backlash is understandable and deserved – and has to be listened to.
"This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan."
Everton CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale was one of those appointed to the panel for the Government's fan-led review of football and its governance and part of the panel that made recommendations related to the potential for a future breakaway European competition.
The white paper on the review was due earlier this week, a period that coincided with the bombshell of the Premier League landing Manchester City with over 100 charges relating to financial malpractice for more than a decade, has been delayed until the end of this month. But in the report published in November 2021 there were recommendations made by the panel that a 'Golden Share' should exist for supporters to protect club heritage.
The recommendation read: "The consent of the holder of the Golden Share should be required for the sale of the club stadium, relocation outside of the local area which is not a temporary part of a redevelopment, joining a new competition that is not approved by FIFA, UEFA and the FA and/or leaving a competition in which it currently plays, club badge, first team home colours, and club playing name."
While A22 have claimed to have canvassed the opinions of more than 50 clubs on the proposals it is thought that the likelihood that potential new legislation in English football would make it almost impossible for English clubs to sign up for any proposed new competition.
Multiple sources have told the ECHO that they were unaware that any conversations or consultation between Everton and anyone at A22 had taken place over the plans.
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